Travel diary, days 6 - 10. Magister Ukki in the search of Old Gods
There is a lot of being written about the Deep Roads, the highways of the old dwarven Imperium, but nothing in those writings actually prepare you for these majestic underground roads. Even in such decay the onlooker can see how careful engineering dwarves used to carve these roads and how much work it required to have them done. I admire the magnificent size of these dwarven statues looming over the road. In these roads at the height of dwarven power a company could march through these roads in combat formation. now, there is too much rubble and debris for it. It is astounding to see all this and understand what happened to our most important allies. The rise and fall of the dwarves is a sad tale indeed. If we come across anything valuable for our dwarven allies we will take it with us (small enough that it).
Our first days 6 -7 were uneventful, this close to the surface there were little to be seen. Scavengers and looter from the surface have picked all that was left and darkspawn have taken the rest. There are ancient dwarven outpost ruins mixed with strange darkspawn constructions. Some marking of the passing darkspawn were also visible. Some of the men whistled while marching to keep the spirit up, but I stopped it right there. In this silence sound carries a dangerous message. My goal is to avoid the main roads and deserted thaigs as much as possible, it is of absolutely importance that we remain unnoticed as long as possible. So onward silently and through the side tunnels.
Because of the nature of our journey I ordered my troops to have not more than short swords, short spears, and small crossbows as weapons. Small shields, breastplates and small helmets with leather support as armor. We have to be able to move fast and without noise. The deeper we go the more likely is we are being overhelmed in case of combat since I have less than 200 men in my convoy. however, all in my team are handpicked, well trained, disciplined and motivated. Even slaves have short swords, bucklers and leather armor. Everyone has to be able to fight if needed. I am not concerned.
Days 8 - 10 brought a change, and I am not talking about darkspawn but change in the spirit of men. The deeper we go the more fearful men seem to get. Side and rear guard men keep leering in the black tunnels we pass and everyone seem to be a bit jumpy. I have cast some magical lights around the convoy and told my apprentices to keep them burning to keep the morale up (and also save the torches). Silence could be cut with a knife and when we camp hardly any of the men make jokes anymore. A bit alarming news came from one of the dwarven scouts, Vargal, he said that apparently we are being tailed. By whom he could not say. What that means I do not know. I would guess darkspawn would just charge us when close and not lurk in the shadows?
I ordered one of apprentices to draw a map from our progress and distribute a copy of it for each ten men. I also made some magical markings on the walls visible only for specific spell in case there is a hurry to return through this route.
Personal grievance. My only wine bottles I brought with me, three of them, were broken when my personal slave dropped his backpack on the ground. I had him slightly whipped for it, not too much though. I need him at his best. No more wine for me from now on.
*written in a parchment and sealed with a Imperial Dragon seal*
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